Paymar's "gun Show Loophole" bill rears its ugly head again

[DeanC]

Fact: The firearms industry has never opposed an instant background check requirement for all firearms sold at gun shows.

I received an email from the NRA late last night. So, they are not together on this one.

I should have snipped that off.

In context, this is from the NSSF, which is a trade org primarily for FFL's. They mean they have never opposed NICS checks for FFL sales at gun shows.

[DeanC]

Feel free to bomb Paymar's editorial here with comments: http://www.minnpost.com/community_voice ... und_checks

[EJSG19]

Feel free to bomb Paymar's editorial here with comments: http://www.minnpost.com/community_voice ... und_checks

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[nyffman]

So far, 0 comments. Do you think they'll be approving many of our comments?

[EJSG19]

So far, 0 comments. Do you think they'll be approving many of our comments?

not sure, but I bet they just got at least 5 comments against the article. Maybe its some slow moderation until they get an Anti to respond with something positive.

[rtk]

From the Red Star.


T. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota lawmakers have finished discussion of a gun control bill without taking a vote.

The legislation would require a background check for buyers of firearms at gun shows. The bill from Rep. Michael Paymar, a St. Paul Democrat, was heard in a House committee Friday.

Supporters say the bill would close a major gap in state law that can make it easier for criminals to get weapons. But Republican Rep. Paul Kohls of Victoria says the bill wouldn't stop the illegal transfer of guns.

The legislation could come back later as part of a larger bill.

[EJSG19]

So far, 0 comments. Do you think they'll be approving many of our comments?

1 comment now showing.

[plblark]

go Nyffman!

[nyffman]

Could use a little covering fire.

[plblark]

it's there, just not out of moderation. We said VERY similar things. I cited the actual study and pointed out the 29+% of criminals who get them from family and friends.

[EJSG19]

I went for more of the "why are you people such idiots" approach.

[nyffman]

They must be waiting for some "anti" comments. Gotta be fair and balanced.

[nyffman]

Spend a little time on the Brady website if you want some cheap entertainment. Things are going against them right now in the country and many states. They aren't happy. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. BAAAAAAAAA BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa

[plblark]

http://www.startribune.com/local/86606837.html

No vote taken on Minn. gun bill in committee

Associated Press

Last update: March 5, 2010 - 10:37 AM
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota lawmakers have finished discussion of a gun control bill without taking a vote.

The legislation would require a background check for buyers of firearms at gun shows. The bill from Rep. Michael Paymar, a St. Paul Democrat, was heard in a House committee Friday.

Supporters say the bill would close a major gap in state law that can make it easier for criminals to get weapons. But Republican Rep. Paul Kohls of Victoria says the bill wouldn't stop the illegal transfer of guns.

The legislation could come back later as part of a larger bill.

[DeanC]

Good news. But if you haven't written, I think you still should. It will discourage any last minute, dark of the night "trickeration".

I'm pretty damned proud of myself. Here's what I wrote, plagiarizing liberally from you guys:

Under House File 2960 Minnesota State Representative Michael Paymar wants to require background checks at gun shows for sales between private sellers. (Dealers selling at gun shows already must conduct back ground checks.)

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms identifies gun shows as the source of fewer than 2% of the guns acquired by criminals. Virtually all of those guns are bought from licensed dealers by persons who have PASSED the federal background check. There is no "loophole," certainly none big enough to justify the burden this bill will place on Minnesota's 1.5 million gun owners.

A 2001 Bureau of Justice study of incarcerated inmates shows that less than ¾% obtained their guns from gun shows

Even if this bill were to become law, the number of crimes it would theoretically prevent is, statistically speaking, zero. Nationwide the actual numbers of crimes committed with guns purchased at gun shows which includes sales from dealers which do include background checks is statistically insignificant. The idea Rep Paymar is suggesting that subjecting one small subset of that already very small group to further scrutiny will reduce crime is absurd.

To say nothing of the generally proven fact that background checks, in general, do almost nothing to stop crime. They are only a redirection device. Criminals just go somewhere else.

By his own admission Michael Paymar has never been to a gun show (Star Tribune 3/4/2010)

Based on that I'm willing to wager Michael Paymar doesn't have the faintest idea how many gun shows there are per year in our state.

And I'm quite sure Michael Paymar doesn't know how many crimes were committed by buyers of guns from private parties at gun shows in the State of Minnesota.

It is already illegal for criminals to buy guns from anyone and for people to sell them to criminals. Is there proof that making something even more illegal than it already is makes it occur less often?

It would be better to require background checks for burglary tools like crowbars and hammers. That's where FAR more criminals get their guns; by stealing them.

So what we have is someone who has never been there, doesn't know if there really is a problem, and has no idea what the actual outcome of this proposed law would be.

Vote this down